Panel clears Thomas to play in weekend clash against Cats

KANGAROOS small forward Lindsay Thomas is free to take on Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Sunday after his hit on Collingwood defender Ben Reid was deemed accidental by the match review panel.

Thomas changed direction and cannoned into Reid off the ball during the third quarter.

The Magpie star was left with blood pouring from his mouth and the side of his face and took no further part in the match.

The incident prompted a war of words between opposing coaches, with North Melbourne's Brad Scott telling his opposite number Nathan Buckley to keep his opinions to himself after the Magpies mentor said he expected Thomas to be sanctioned.

Fortunately for the Kangaroos goalsneak, who suffered a bruised jaw from the collision, the match review panel said Reid's injuries were caused by a clash of heads which was outside of Thomas' control and "couldn't be reasonably foreseen".

The panel also cleared Carlton's Chris Yarran for a short jab to the stomach of Richmond defender Bachar Houli, saying the contact wasn't sufficient to warrant a report.